Apparatus for treatment of feed and other material with molasses



vNov. 17, 1942. B. H. CARD 2,302,526 APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FED ANDOTHER MATERIAL WITH MOLASSES Filed NOV. 22, 1957 Snventor ENJAWN H. CARDGttotnegs Patented Nov. 17, 1942 APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF FEED ANDOTHER MATERIAL WITH IHOLASSES Benjamin H. Card., Fairwater, Wis.Application November 22, 1937, Serial No. 175,765

20 Claims.

rl'his invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the treatmentof feed and other material with molasses. The present apparatus isuseful, among other purposes, for the practice of the process ofmolasses treatment which is disclosed in a companion application of T.W. Black entitled Art of mixing feeds with molasses.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide novel, simple andinexpensively constructed apparatus in which molasses can be quickly anduniformly heated and maintained at a desired temperature without burningor caramelization thereof, and can be sprayed in a relativelynon-viscous state to produce a finely atomized spray for the treatmentof free air of previously divided particles of the material to betreated.

Other objects will appear in more detail from the following disclosure.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in. section of a preferred form of feed treatingapparatus embodying this invention.

' Figure 2 is a detail -view in cross section through the feed trough onthe section indicated at 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 shows a modified arrangement of the feed handling apparatuspartially in side elevation and partially in section.

Figure 4 shows a further modified embodiment of the feed handlingapparatus.

Figure 5 is a detail view taken in cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig.1.

Figure 6 and Figure 7 are detail views on an enlarged scale showing apreferred type of spray nozzle which I have successfully employed forthis and other apparatus.

Like parts are identied by the same reference characters throughout theseveral views.

The apparatus may conveniently be considered in two separate parts, thefirst of which handles the molasses and the second of which handles thefeed or other material requiring treatment. The molasses handlingportion of the apparatus includes a tank or reservoir 8 which mayconveniently be formed of sheet metal and provided with a filler cap at9. the reservoir being otherwise closed. 'Ihe bottom of the reservoir 8comprises a convoluted web I0 serving as a partition between thereservoir 8 and a water chamber I I.. The convoluted bottom III providesa series of upwardly opening pockets I6 communicating with the molassesreservoir and an alternate .se-

ries of downwardly opening pockets l1 communieating with the Waterchamber Il.

In the side wall i8 whichl is common to the molasses reservoir 8 and thewater chamber 9, I provide a series of ports at i9 which affordcommunication between the pockets l1 and a sheet metal manifold 20. Inthe opposite wall 2l which is common to the molasses reservoir 8 and thewater chamber il, I provide at a lower level a like series of ports 22which afford communication between the bottoms of the pockets i6 and anexterior sheet metal manifold at 2B. Both the molasses reservoir and thewater chamber are enclosed in the jacket 25, the intervening space beingpreferably filled with thermal insulation at 26.

Projecting into the water chamber il v is an immersion type electricheating element 21 which is preferably provided at its head end 28 withany conventional thermostatic control (not shown).

The several ports I9 serve to keep the pockets I1 free of vapor and fullof water. A pipe 30 leads from manifold 20 to the top of a water supplytank 3| which is mounted on the top of the apparatus. 'I'he lowerportion of the supply tank communicates through pipe 32 with thebottomof the water chamber. 'I'his yarrangement ensures that the waterchamber will always be kept filled with the water under slight head.

The convolutions of the water chamber provide not only for an increasedsurface area for heat transfer between the water chamber and themolasses, but they also provide means for subf dividing the mass ofmolasses in reservoir 8 for quick heating of that portion thereof whichis in pockets I6. While convection currents in the molasses will tend,in time, to heat all of the molasses, I withdraw the molasses from thebottom of the molasses chamber through the several pockets I6, therebyensuring the intimate contact of the withdrawn molasses with the waterheated convoluted partition walls I6 so that the molasses withdrawn isvirtually at the temperature fixed by the heating element 21.

The molasses withdrawn from pocket I6 passes into manifold 24 throughports 22 and is thence conveyed through the suction pipe 34 to pressurepump 35 which is preferably adapted to develop a' pressure ofapproximately 150 pounds on the molasses. The Dump is driven by a motor38 or any other convenient prime mover. Its delivery pipe 31 has amanually controlled .bypass valve 3 8 which may be opened to relieve thepressure of the pump and return the molasses through pipe 39 back to thetop of reservoir 8. There is also a relief valve 40, which may be set tofunction at a predetermined pressure in line 31 for the automatic returnof excess molasses through the pipe 39 to reservoir 8, even though thevalve 38 be closed.

Beyond the relief valve 43 is a manually operable valve 4l whichcontrols delivery of the molasses through pipe @l2 to the spray nozzle43 which is shown in detail in Figs. 6 and '7.

The spray nozzle 43 comprises la barrel 44 gradually expanding in crosssection and shouldered at 45 to receive the disk 6 which has in itsouter face slots 48 which may be parallel and are provided with openingsat 49 near their opposite ends for admitting to the slots the materialto be sprayed.

The orifice disk i] covers the slotted face of disk 45 and is providedwith an orice 5l having a conical counterbore at 52 with respect towhich the slots 48 are tangential. The molasses travels in oppositedirections from the openings 49 through the slots to the counterbore,thus establishing a high velocity whirl in the counterbore chamber 52.The exterior of the orice 5i may likewise be counterbored if desired andthe molasses or other material will issue from plate 53 in an extremelyfine mist. The nozzle can readily be cleaned by removing the retainingring 53, which is all that holds the plates 46 and 5D.

The spray nozzle 43 is shown in Fig. 1 to be positioned over the feedtrough 55 into which previously comminuted or ground feed or othermaterial in finely divided form is delivered through hopper 56 to beadvanced through the trough by feed screw 5l. The feed screw preferablyhas a mutilated thread 58 to break up any lumps in the feed so as toassure that its component particles will be free for molasses treatment.At an intermediate portion of the trough the feed screw is peripherallyprovided with axially extending blades at 60. As the feed screw isrotated, these blades engage the finely divided feed and toss it intothe air immediately beneath the spray nozzle 63 so that when the feed isencountered by the finely atomized molasses its particles will beunsupported and will tend to be moving in opposition to the path of theatomized molasses.

As explained in the aforesaid application of T. W. Black, the viscosityof the molasses is altered by heat and also its water content is givenoff in the spray sufficiently so that the finely atomized molasses willdeposit in virtually dry form upon the finely divided feed. The ensuingproduct may be made to contain a very high percentage of molasseswithout being sticky to any degree whatever.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the previously finely divided feedis introduced through hopper 563 into the eye of a centrifugal blowerfan 550 from which it is discharged through the spout 62 in an upwarddirection in opposition to the finely atomized spray of molassesdelivered from the nozzle 43. The treatment occurs in the upper end of afeed chute 63 which is closed at its top by dome 64 by is open at 65 forventilation so that the water vapor released from the molasses spray canreadily escape. The treated material falls through the feed chute 63into a storage bin 66.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the finely divided material to betreated is falling freely through a conduit 61 in which the spray nozzle43 is disposed, protected from direct contact with the feed by means ofa baille 68. In this arrangement the spray issuing from nozzle 43 willmove in the same direction as the feed, whereas in the constructionsshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the movement will be opposite. The molassesspray has been shown in the drawing only for purposes of illustration.In actual practice, in the use of the disclosed nozzle and the disclosedheater and pressure delivery, thev spray will be substantiallyinvisible.

I have found it practicable to heat the molasses to temperatures betweendegrees and 150 degrees F. The preferred temperature is approximatelydegrees F., which is very close to the point at which the molasses willcaramelize. The Water vapor does not escape from the molasses until themolasses is sprayed from the nozzle. At this point a certain amount ofvapor is driven oi, and it is my belief that the molasses is at leastpartially caramelized or is otherwise caused to change its form byreason of the release of moisture. In any event, it is not sticky whendeposited on the previously sub-divided feed even though quantitiesthereof may be incorporated in the feed to a degree never heretoforereachedin practice.

I claim:

l. In a device for spraying a, non-adhesive molasses coating, thecombination with an atomizing nozzle and a reservoir for molasses, ofmeans for the pressure delivery of molasses from the reservoir to thenozzle, said means including a pump and passages comprising a. heatdelivery wall, means for retaining a heating liquid in contact with saidwall, and means for maintaining such liquid at a predeterminedtemperature close to the temperature of molasses caramelization for theheating of the molasses prior to its delivery to the nozzle.

2. Apparatus of th'e character described comprising the combination witha molasses chamber, a pump and a nozzle, of conduit means connectingsaid chamber with said pump and nozzle and comprising a jacketedsurface, a heating liquid disposed within the jacket in contact withsaid surface, and means for heating said liquid to a predeterminedtemperature close to the temperature of caramelization.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination witha molasses reservoir and a nozzle, of a pump having an inlet pipeconnecting with said reservoir and an outlet pump connecting with saidnozzle, and means for heating the molasses almost to the point ofcaramelization prior to its delivery to the pump, a valve controllingthe delivery of the molasses from the pump to the nozzle, and by-passmeans for return of the molasses to the reservoir from a point betweenthe pump and valve.

'4. Apparatus of the character described comprising lthe combinationwith a molasses tank, a pump and a. nozzle, of a molasses conduitincluding a molasses heating means and a thermally insulated casing inwhich said tank and heating means are both enclosed.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a,molasses reservoir, of a water chamber, a common casing enclosing saidreservoir and chamber, and means for heating the water in said chamber,said chamber being provided with heat exchange means for delivering heatto the molasses and means for maintaining water in said chamber incontact with said h'eat exchange means.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casingsubdivided intermediate its top and bottom by a partition defining amolasses reservoir and a chamber for heating liquid, said partitionbeing convoluted to provide alternate pockets communicating respectivelywith the reservoir and said chamber, a heating element in said chamber,a manifold opening to the bottoms of pockets communicating with saidreservoir, and a manifold open to the tops of pockets communicating withsaid chamber.

'E'. In a device of the character described, the combination with a,casing subdivided intermediate its top and bottom by a partitiondefining a molasses reservoir and a chamber for heating liquid, saidpartition being convoluted to provide alternate pockets communicatingrespectively with the reservoir and said chamber, a heating element insaid chamber, a manifold opening to the bottoms of pockets communicatingwith said reservoir, and a manifold open to the tops of pocketscommunicating with said chamber, said last mentioned manifold beingvented.

8. In a device of the character described, the

13. Means for applying to particles of coml minuted feed a superficialnon-adhesive coating of molasses, said means comprising'the combinationwith a feed conduit, of a nozzle directed to feed in said conduit andcomprising means for atomizing hot molasses under pressure to an almostinvisible iineness of spray, means for delivering molasses underpressure to the nozzle, and means for supplying hot molasses to saiddelivering means including a storage chamber and a controlled heatingmeans for maintaining the delivered molasses at a temperature onlyslightly combination with a casing subdivided intermev diate its top andbottom by a partition dening a molasses reservoir and a chamber forheating liquid, said partition being convoluted to provide alternatepockets communicating respectivelyi with the reservoir and said chamber,a heating element in said chamber, a manifold opening to the bottoms ofpockets communicating with said reservoir, and a manifold open to thetops of pockets communicating with said ch'amber, together with a pumpand spray nozzle operatively connected with said first mentionedmanifold.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pumpand nozzle, of a molasses reservoir, conduit connections from saidreservoir to said pump and said nozzle, and means for heating themolasses, said heating means comprising a chamber beneath said reservoirand having a wall in common therewith, said wall being convoluted toprovide pockets communicating respectively with the chamber and thereservoir, a heating element in said chamber, and a manifold with whichone of said conduits communicates, said manifold having means affordingcommunication with the several pockets opening into said reservoir.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a spraynozzle, a pump, and molasses conduit connections therefor, of a singlecasing having a partition subdividing said easing intermediate its topand bottom to provide a molasses reservoir with which said connectionscommunicate, a heating chamber, heat transfer means extending from saidheating chamber into said molasses reservoir, and a heating element inthe heating chamber.

l1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a spraynozzle, a pump, and molasses conduit connections therefor, of a singlecasing having a partition subdividlng said casing intermediate its topand bottom to provide a molasses reservoir withv which said connectionscommunicate, a heating chamber, heat transfer means extending from saidheating chamber into said molasses reservoir, and a heating element inthe heating chamber, an insulating jacket enclosing said casinmandasupply tank mounted.

below the point of caramelization, whereby the molasses delivered fromsaid nozzle will reach the particles of feed in such a condition as tobe substantially non-adhesive after coating such particles,

14. Means for applying to particles of comminuted feed a. substantiallycompletely nonon said casing and provided with a connection 7b adhesivecoating of molasses, said means comprising the combination with a feedconveyor comprising means in which the feed particles are deliveredunsupported in free space, of a nozzle directed to a portion of saidconveyor in which the unsupported particles of feed are exposed to thenozzle, said nozzle comprising means for spraying hot molasses in theform of an extremely fine and substantially invisible mist, a storagechamber for the molasses, means for expelling molasses from the storagechamber through the nozzle under substantial pressure, and means forheating the molasses to a temperature approximating F. suiiicientlyclose to the caramelization point thereof so that upon the atomizationof the molasses in its delivery from the nozzle the molasses will giveoff water vapor and reach the particles of feed to com'- prise anon-adhesive coating thereon.

15. Apparatus of the character described, comprising the combinationwith a molasses cham-- ber and a nozzle, of` means for deliveringrncllasses from the chamber to the nozzle, means for heating thedelivered molasses almost to the point of caramelization, said nozzlecomprising means for spraying the heated molasses under pressure in aform so finely atomized as to be substantially invisible, whereby theparticles of mist comprising the molasses give of! water vapor upondelivery from the nozzle, together with means for producing relativemovement between said nozzle and comminuted particles of feed to becoated by the molasses sprayed therefrom.

16. Apparatus for heating molasses and the like including a receptacle,a heat conducting wall disposed therein and dividing said receptacleinto upper and lower compartments, the upper compartment being adaptedto receive molasses to be heated and the lower compartment beingsubstantially filled with a heating fluid having means disposed thereinfor heating the nuid, said compartments having overlapping portionsseparated by said heat transfer wall whereby temperature of the molasseswithin the overlapping portion of the upper compartment can be quicklyraised to the temperature oi' the heating uid by heat conduction throughsaid wall without heating that portion of the molasses above theoverlapping portion to a like temperature.

17. In a device for heating molasses and the like preparatory tospraying, a receptacle provided interiorly with a convoluted heatconducting member to divide the receptacle into an upper molassescompartment and a lower heating compartment, said member being in iiuidsealing relation with the interior walls of the receptacle to preventfluid communication between the compartments while allowing heattransfer therebetween, a heating element disposed within the lowercompartment, and means for maintaining said lower compartmentsubstantially filled with liquid while allowing gases to escapetherefrom, the lower portion of the upper compartment having an outletto provide for the withdrawal of heated molasses.

- 18. A device as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means formaintaining the heating compartment substantially filled with liquidwhile allowing gases to escape includes an auxiliary liquid tankdisposed above the level of the heating tank,

conduit means intermediate the bottom-portion o1' the auxiliary` tankand the bottom portion oi the heating compartment to provide gravityfeed therebetween, and conduit means between the top portion oi' theheating compartment at a point within the auxiliary tank above theliquid level therein to allow gases to escape from the heating tank.

19. A device for heating viscous material including a tank for thematerial to be heated, said tank having a bottom portion provided withdepending spaced well-like portions with heat conducting walls, meansfor evenly applying a predetermined amount oi' heat to the exterior ofthe heat conducting walls for rapid transfer of heat therethrough to thematerial on the bottom portion of the tank, and means for drawing oilheated material from-the well-like portions.

20. The apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein the means for producingrelative movement comprises mechanism for delivering unsupported throughfree space before said nozzle'the comminuted particles of feed to becoated by the molasses sprayed from the nozzle BENJAMIN H. CARD.

